Air conditioning unit with condensate disposal

ABSTRACT

An air conditioning apparatus employing an aspirating device to lift condensate from the base pan of the unit and disperse the water in fine droplets against the condenser coil through the interaction of the condenser fan and a baffle arrangement of a predetermined design.

United States Patent 11 1 Ball Oct. 23 1973 [54] AIR CONDITIONING UNIT wITII 3,079,768 3/1963 Abbott 62/280 CONDENSATE DISPOSAL 3,079,769 3/1963 Abbott 62/280 3,159,984 12/1964 Eberhart 62 279 Inventor: David Ball, 1 3,401,534 9/1968 1661061165... 62/280 [73 J Assignee, Carrier corporafion, Syracuse 3,442,092 5 1969 Pm: 62 279 N.Y. Primary ExaminerWilliam J. Wye [22] Flled' May 1972 Attorney-J. Raymond Curtin [21] Appl. No.: 249,644

[57] ABSTRACT 52 U.S. c1 62/280, 62/279 261/84 An air condimning apparatus emPmYing pirating 51 1m. 01 F251) 47/00 device lift mdensate the base of the 58 Field of Search 62/279 280- 261/84 and disperse the Water in finedroplets agaim the denser coil through the interaction of the condenser [56] References u fan and a bgffle arrangement of a predetermined de- UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,079,766 3 1963 Abbott 62/280 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Flgures 3,079,767 3 1963 Speaker 62/280 3 I l 1 9) l7- 1 i 2 I Q 4 1 9 7 I E III I/ I 1 a 23 1\ I r PAIENIEUncrzama 3.766751 sum 1 or 2 OOOOOOOQOOOOOOOO m J I I m PATENTEBBBI 23 B175 SHEET 2 [1F 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Air conditioning units utilizing refrigeration equipment ordinarily generate a substantial quantity of condensate as air treated by the unit is reduced in temperature below its dew point. In central station or split systems, the condensate is ordinarily piped to a suitable drain. However, self-contained air conditioning units such as window air conditioners may not be located convenient to a drain.

Numerous methods have been employed to dispose of the condensate which collects on the evaporator coil and drains into the base pan of the unit. Pumps driven by the condenser fan motor have been employed to lift water from the base pan of the unit for discharge over the face of the condenser coil to improve condenser efficiency. However, pumps have the obvious disadvantages of high initial cost, wear, the possibility of clogging aftera period of time and may be damaged if water within the pumpfreezes. v

A more common method to dispose of the condensate is to provide a slinger ring on the periphery of the condenser fan blades, the ring dipping into the water collected in the base pan of the unit and scooping the water up into the air stream generated by the fan to blow the water against the condenser coil. Numerous problems may also be encountered with slinger rings. The majority of self-contained units, particularly window air conditioning units, employ a single, doubleended motor to drive both the condenser and the evaporator fans. Since the position of the slinger ring relative to the base pan of the unit is critical for optimum operation, the condenser fan, along with the motor and evaporator fan, must be carefully positioned relative to the base pan of the unit. Since the evaporator fan may be a centrifugal type fan within a scroll housing, it is desirable to position the evaporator fan accurately relative to the scroll. However, due to the use of the slinger ring, the fan is positioned to provide optimum conden sate disposal rather than optimum air flow efficiency.

It has become increasingly-popular to utilize selfcontained air conditioning units such as window air I used exclusively or in conjunction with a reverse cycle refrigeration system also find extensive use in heatingcooling air conditioning units. For-heating, the interior I or evaporator fan is utilized to circulate the heatedair throughout the conditioned space. Since the majority of self-contained air conditioning units employ a single motor, the condenser fan is also rotatedwhen heating is required. During operation under low ambient tem-' perature conditions, the water in' the base pan may freeze. Since the slinger ring is designed to run partially submerged in the water within the base pan, the slinger ring may be held stationary by the ice, preventing operation of the unit and possibly causing motor burnout or other serious damage to the unit. h

As an alternative topumps and slinger rings, aspirator type condensate disposal devices of the type illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,079,766, and 3,079,767 have been employed However, the aspirator devices ordinarily require a fairly high air flow for proper operation. Since it is common practice to provide a low fan speed setting on self-contained air conditioning units for maximum dehumidification, aspirator efficiency is at a minimum due to the low fan speed at the same time condensate collection is at a maximum. As such, the use of aspirators in self-contained air conditioning units has heretofore been extremely limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an aspirator type liquid disposal construction for lifting and dispersing liquid from a compartment having a fan orifice partitiondividing the compartment into an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber. Fan means adapted for cooperation with the orifice partition are provided for moving air from the inlet chamber to the discharge chamber. Baffle means having a curl portion formed thereon are disposed within the inlet chamber adjacent a discontinuity formed in a ring portion of the fan orifice. Blade tip vortices, passing from between the orifice ring and the fan blades through the discontinuity in the orificering are expanded and consolidated within the baffle means to form an intense vortex causing the liquid in the base of the compartment below the baffle means to be lifted in droplet form into the path of the air entering the fan means to entrain liquid droplets in the air stream passing into the discharge chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view, partly in section of a window air conditioning unit with a portion of the condenser coil broken away for clarity.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view with certain parts shown full of the air conditioning unit taken along line II-'-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 isa fragmentary isometric view of the fan orifice partition and a portion of the base pan of theair conditioning unit illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

. ,DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a portion of a window air conditioning unit 1 including a casing 3 adapted for attachment to a suitabe base pan 5. A fan orifice partition 7 is mounted within the outside compartment of the casing 3 for cooperation with a condenser coil 9 mounted within the casing'and forming the back face thereof. Asuitable fan 11 is mounted within the unit for cooperation with orifice partition 7 to circulate air from inlet chamber 13 formed within the casing into the discharge chamber 15 formed by fanv orifice partition 7 and condenser coil 9. Suitable openings (not shown) are provided for entry of ambient air into chamber 13 for-passage from'chamber 13 through condenser coil 9 to condense high pressure refrigerant therein. I

The fan orifice partition 7 is provided with a scoop or baffie 17 extending from the base 5 in an upward direction into the path of air flowing from inlet chamber 13 intodischarge chamber 15. As'can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the baffle portion is concave, the top edge 18 of the-baffle projecting toward the fan blades and terminating closely adjacent the leading edges 20 of the fan 11. The vertical edge of bafflel7 which is centrally located relative to the fan orifice opening terminates in a curl portion 19 which also projects toward the leading edges 20 of the fan .11. The curl portion 19 'ward the inlet-side of the fan.

is basically disposed within a portion of the space cre ated by the concave formation of baffle 17.

A suitable dam or flap member 21 is associated with orifice partition 7 for cooperation with a ramp or raised portion 23 formed within the base pan. The raised portion 23 terminates at edge 24 beneath scoop 17 to form a depressed area for collection of liquid beneath the a scoop 17. An orifice ring 27 formed on partition 7 is adapted to completely surround the periphery of the fan except for a small area between flap 21 and curl 19.

Upon operation of the air conditioning unit, condensate formed on the evaporator coil (not shown) will collect in the base pan and drain through opening 28 in partition 7 into the condensate collection portion 29 24 into the depressed area formed beneath scoop 17.

The low pressure on the fan side of scoop 17 generated by the fan, in conjunction withthe air flow along the top of surface 23 from the high pressure side of the orifice partition 7 to the low pressure area within scoop 17 intensifies the blade tip air vortices which are allowed to pass into the vicinity of the scoop 17 and curl 19 due to the discontinuity in ring 27. The eye of the vortex generated by these elements is located in the area of curl 19. The swirling motion imparted by the air vortices to the liquid pool collected beneath scoop 17 reacts with edge 24 to break up the film of water flow-- ing over raised portion 23 into droplets. The vortices also cause water to flow along the concave inner surface of scoop 17 and the inner surface of curl 19. When the f lm of water on the surface of scoop 17 and curl 19 reaches the edge 18 of the scoop and the vertical and horizontal edges of curl '19, droplets are formed which become entrained in the vortex along with droplets that are formed by the passage of liquid over edge 24. The vortex carries these droplets in an upward direction in-the path of air flowing toward fan 11. The liquid rais'edby the vortex passes through fan 11 and is dispersed onto the inner surface of coil 9 where it is evaporated by heat transfer with =the hot refrigerant within coil.9. A suitable splash shield 31 may be provided to prevent' water from being splashed baclt to- The fan blade'tip vortices whichare allowed to pass into the area adjacent scoop 17 and curl 19 due to the 'discontinuityin ring 27'are greatly intensified by scoop.

17 and curl 19 to generate an intense vortex capable of aspirating a greater quantity of liquid than has hereto-' fore been possible to remove the required quantity of condensate from the base pad at low fan speeds arid under high humidity conditions and preventoverflow of water from the base panunder all operating conditions.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A device for lifting and dispersing liquid including means forming a compartment;

a partition dividing said compartment into an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber, said partition having a fan orifice formed therein;

a fan adapted for cooperation with said orifice for moving air from the inlet chamber to the discharge chamber,

liquid storage means associated with said compartment for collection of liquid within the discharge.

chamber of said compartment adjacent said fan; baffle means disposed within the inlet chamber of said compartment inthe path of air entering said fan, the surface of said baffle means'facing said fan with said partition to encircle the periphery of said fan, said orifice ring having a discontinuity therein opposite said concave baffle means and said curl means to allow passage of fan tip vortices into said-baffle means and said curl means to form an intense vortex therein.

3. A device for lifting and dispersing liquid according to claim 2 further including flap means associated with 'said partition, said flap means being disposed substantially perpendicular to said partition adjacent said liquid storage means, said flap being adapted to divert liquid and air directed thereto by the tangential flow of air from said fan towards said baffle means to increase the intensity of the vortex generated within said baffle means and said curl means.

4. A device for lifting and dispersing liquid according to claim 3 further including ramp means adjacent said flap means, said ramp means terminating adjacent said baffle means to form a depression beneath said baffle means, the tangential flow of air from said fan causing liquid to flow, up onto said ramp means and be de-- flected by said flap means over the edge of saidramp into the depression beneath said baffle means, passage of liquid over the edge of said ramp means toward said baffle means causing the film of liquid on said ramp to break up into droplets for en'trainmentin-the vortex a fanorifice partition dividing said compartment-into an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber;

a fan adapted forcooperation' with said orifice for, moving air from the inlet chamber to the discharge chamber; v

" liquid-storage means associated withsaid compart- 'ment for collection of liquid-within the'discharge' chamber of said compartment adjacent said fan;

' bafile means disposed-within the inletcharnber' of said compartment in the path'of air entering-said fan, the surface of said being concave, and g curl means associated with one side of said concave baffle means to lift liquidfrom said liquid storage baffle means facingsaid fan.

means into the path of air entering said fan'means to entrain liquid droplets in the air stream passing into the discharge chamberof said compartment.

6. An air conditioning unit according to claim 5 further including a fan orifice ring associated with said partition to encircle the periphery of said fan, said orifice ring having a discontinuity therein opposite said concave baffle means and said curl means to allow passage of fan tip vortices into said baffle means and said curl means to form an intense vortex therein.

7. An air conditioning unit according to claim 6 further including flap means associated with said partition, said flap means being disposed substantially perpendicular to said partition adjacent said liquid storage means, said flap being adapted to divert liquid and air directed thereto by the tangential flow of air from said fan towards said baffle means to increase the intensity of the vortex generated within said baffle means and pression beneath said baffle means, passage of liquid over the edge of said ramp means toward said baffle means causing the film of liquid on said ramp means to break up into droplets for entrainment in the vortex generated within said baffle means and said curl means to lift the droplets into the path of air entering said fan. 

1. A device for lifting and dispersing liquid including means forming a compartment; a partition dividing said compartment into an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber, said partition having a fan orifice formed therein; a fan adapted for cooperation with said orifice for moving air from the inlet chamber to the discharge chamber, liquid storage means associated with said compartment for collection of liquid within the discharge chamber of said compartment adjacent said fan; baffle means disposed within the inlet chamber of said compartment in the path of air entering said fan, the surface of said baffle means facing said fan being concave, and curl means associated with one side of said concave baffle means to lift liquid from said liquid storage means into the path of air entering said fan means to entrain liquid droplets in the air stream passing into the discharge chamber of said compartment.
 2. A device for lifting and dispersing liquid according to claim 1 further including a fan orifice ring associated with said partition to encircle the periphery of said fan, said orifice ring having a discoNtinuity therein opposite said concave baffle means and said curl means to allow passage of fan tip vortices into said baffle means and said curl means to form an intense vortex therein.
 3. A device for lifting and dispersing liquid according to claim 2 further including flap means associated with said partition, said flap means being disposed substantially perpendicular to said partition adjacent said liquid storage means, said flap being adapted to divert liquid and air directed thereto by the tangential flow of air from said fan towards said baffle means to increase the intensity of the vortex generated within said baffle means and said curl means.
 4. A device for lifting and dispersing liquid according to claim 3 further including ramp means adjacent said flap means, said ramp means terminating adjacent said baffle means to form a depression beneath said baffle means, the tangential flow of air from said fan causing liquid to flow up onto said ramp means and be deflected by said flap means over the edge of said ramp into the depression beneath said baffle means, passage of liquid over the edge of said ramp means toward said baffle means causing the film of liquid on said ramp to break up into droplets for entrainment in the vortex generated within the concave baffle means and said curl means to lift the droplets into the path of air entering said fan.
 5. A self-contained air conditioning unit including a casing having a compartment formed therein; a fan orifice partition dividing said compartment into an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber; a fan adapted for cooperation with said orifice for moving air from the inlet chamber to the discharge chamber; liquid storage means associated with said compartment for collection of liquid within the discharge chamber of said compartment adjacent said fan; baffle means disposed within the inlet chamber of said compartment in the path of air entering said fan, the surface of said baffle means facing said fan being concave, and curl means associated with one side of said concave baffle means to lift liquid from said liquid storage means into the path of air entering said fan means to entrain liquid droplets in the air stream passing into the discharge chamber of said compartment.
 6. An air conditioning unit according to claim 5 further including a fan orifice ring associated with said partition to encircle the periphery of said fan, said orifice ring having a discontinuity therein opposite said concave baffle means and said curl means to allow passage of fan tip vortices into said baffle means and said curl means to form an intense vortex therein.
 7. An air conditioning unit according to claim 6 further including flap means associated with said partition, said flap means being disposed substantially perpendicular to said partition adjacent said liquid storage means, said flap being adapted to divert liquid and air directed thereto by the tangential flow of air from said fan towards said baffle means to increase the intensity of the vortex generated within said baffle means and said curl means.
 8. An air conditioning unit according to claim 7 further including ramp means adjacent said flap means, said ramp means terminating adjacent said baffle means to form a depression beneath said baffle means, the tangential flow of air from said fan causing liquid to flow up onto said ramp means and be deflected by said flap means over the edge of said ramp into the depression beneath said baffle means, passage of liquid over the edge of said ramp means toward said baffle means causing the film of liquid on said ramp means to break up into droplets for entrainment in the vortex generated within said baffle means and said curl means to lift the droplets into the path of air entering said fan. 